Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1887-12-09
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
Written and compiled for the HERALD.
WASHINGTON, Dec. ., 1887.


Written and compiled for the HERALD.
WASHINGTON, Dec. ., 1887.
Asa general rule the sessions of
the u. S. Senate are exceedingly
dull. except to careful and intel
licent observer. The debates are
usually conducted IN converse
tional manner, and very rarely,
indeed, is an effort made at orator
icai display. A stranger looking
down from the gallery upon the
Senate in ordinary session, so quiet,
dignided and orderly, would have
a very meagre idea of the immense
brain power, logic, and eloquence
that could leap forth from a score
oflips the very moment that &C.
casou required 1t, that would
arouse the Nation from centre to
circumference, and on the wings
Of cable lightning carry his words
as fast as uttered to the court of
every nation on the face of the
ear.i. There are several caseS on
record where a speech of some one
of our Senatorial giants has been
read at the next mornings break
fast table in London, Paris, Berlin,
and ether centres OF national pow
or. Ii is not the American eye
alone that watches the L. S. Senate.
While all are not great dabaters,
they are wise Legislators, and he
VIII, has the power to clOthe his
thoughts in speech on great Inter
national issues, attracts the atten-
ten of the world. / doubt il You
can find like assembly Oh the face
of the earth, that has tine real
brain power of the L. S. Senate.
The House of Representatives IS
quite a different body, and is Gu
riously made up. Here is great
mixture Of nationalities. Has the
thought ever occurred to you
Well, We have here for members,
She native borne American, with |
his Eastern, or Western or South
ern ideas, generally all good, but
sometimes bad; then there is in
this Congress, by birth, the Prus-
sian, the Englishman, the French
man, the German, the Irishman,
the Mexican, the ScOtchman, the |
SVcde, aud i don't know how many |
other nations, and although Amer
ican cltizeus and loyal to the Gov |
eminent aud deserving of all they |
receive, yet there is a difference of |
temperament, to say the least, and |
possibly early ideas that are often
hard TO harmonic. do not won
der that the sessions of the House |
are a regular PandemOnium, and |
that 1t requires five official report
ers 10 give an intelligent account
OF its proceedings. Last winter
there was a stranger here from
New Hampshire. He took his
seat IN the gallery, and tried hard
to keep run Of the proceedings,
but soon became bewildered |
Turning to the gentleman on his
right, he inquired what bill was up.
"They are discussing, sir, the Army |
appropriation lie watched and
waited, and not being fully salts
fed, made the same inquiry OF a
gentleman on his left. "They are |
making a fight on the River and
Harbor BILL" was the laconic and
positive response. Our New
Hampshire friend waited another
hour in wonderland, and finally
left, but in passing ont inquired of
the messenger who attended the
door, what bill was upi "An ap-
preparation. sir, for new war YES
sels.r don't wonder that stran-
gers get confused ; some members
do to that extent that they can
hardly find their way home at the
close of a days session.
The Republican members Of the
House held their caucus Saturday
AFTERNOON, and reelected Cannon,
ofIllinois, Chairman for this Con-
cress. They then nominated Reed,
Of Maine, for Speaker; MCPHERSON
Of Pennsylvania, for Clerk; Gen.
Fitch. of Ohio. for Doorkeeper
Don Shepard, of Illinois, for Ser
geant at Arms, and Charley Gray,
of Dakota, Tor Postmaster. Every
thing ran as smooth as oil, and
gave perfect satisfaction.
The Democrats held their caucus
IN the evening, and as usual was
boisterons and ended in a row.
They re-nominated all the present
officers except the door keeper,
Sam Donaldson, Of Tennessee, was
laid out, and a respectable man
named Hurt, Of Mississippi, recelv-
ed the nomination. change much
for the better. Carlisle had 10